主办单位:成都体育学院
ISSN 1001-9154 CN 51-1097/G8

Journal of Chengdu Sport University ›› 2020, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (5): 51-58.

• SPORTS SOCIAL SCIENCE:SPORTS NEWS COMMUNICATION • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Collective Self-Esteem and Loneliness of Older Sports Fans: Social Media Use Matters

GUO Sitong, Andrew C. BILLINGS, Nicholas R. BUZZELLI   

  1. College of Communication and Information Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA, 35487
  • Received:2020-05-01 Published:2020-09-15

Abstract: Using social identity theory as a lens for examination, 148 adults aged 55 years or older were surveyed regarding their use of social media for sport-related content and interaction. Relationships between this form of social media use and team identification, loneliness, and collective self-esteem were tested. Results showed that while social media use positively predicted collective self-esteem, no relationship was found between social media use and loneliness. Moreover, team identification positively predicted people's sport-based social media use. Theoretical and applied ramifications are both offered, along with a call for increased scholarly attention for this age demographic within sports media studies.

Key words: social media use, older fans, team identification, loneliness, collective self-esteem

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